Devon Alexander vs. Lee Purdy: Date, Time, TV and Live Stream Replay Info

Devon Alexander "The Great" (24-1, 13 KO) finally has another opponent. The IBF welterweight champion takes on Englishman "Lights Out" Lee Purdy (20-3, 13 KO) on Saturday night from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

After bouts with another British fighter, Kell Brook, were repeatedly called off, a fight with Purdy is a go.

Alexander doesn't get the respect that some of the other champions at 147 pounds receive.

On Saturday, he'll be in position to prove he deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Juan Manuel Marquez...OK, maybe not, but he's still defending his title nonetheless.

Here's how you can watch the Alexander-Purdy clash.

When: Saturday, May 18 at 9 p.m. ET

Where: Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.

TV: Showtime

Streamed: Replay available the day after on Showtime Anytime (Pay Service)

The Book on Alexander

Disrespected or Overrated?

Perhaps only Paulie Malignaggi gets less respect as a legitimate welterweight champion than Alexander. Malignaggi is the WBA champion for now; he fights Adrien Broner on June 22, so by my watch his title reign has about 37 days remaining.

Let's face it, even if Alexander defeats Purdy, he's probably going to hold the title as least respected 147-pound champion in the world in a little over a month.

Not many people have heard of Purdy, so a win over the 25-year-old from Colchester, Essex isn't going to send Alexander's stock through the roof.

He needs a big win, but when you look over his resume, he's already recorded a few victories that would normally garner respect.

He dominated Marcos Rene Maidana in February, but most would say Maidana was never much more than a brawler, and to add to that, his best days are behind him.

Alexander the Great defeated Lucas Matthysse by split decision in June 2011, but (there always seems to be one with Alexander) the decision was highly disputed as some believed the hard-punching Argentinian deserved the decision.

In Alexander's only loss, he was being out-boxed by Timothy Bradley in January 2011. To make matters worse, he quit on the stool in the 10th round after suffering a cut from a headbutt in the second.

Losing is one thing, but quitting in boxing creates a stigma.

In many ways, Alexander is still working to end negative perceptions. He is talented, but right now the "buts" and the butt are still holding him back.

In the Ring

Quickness is Alexander's best quality. He has very good hand speed and is a solid overall athlete. He's not blessed with great power, but he punches well enough to keep his opponents honest.

He is a southpaw, which can give some opponents issue if they are not accustomed to facing lefties, but he isn't the most tricky of the bunch.

One of the things that sets Alexander behind other speedy boxers like Mayweather is arm length. Alexander's reach is said to be 70", but in all honesty, it appears that could be generous. 

The inability to reach opponents sometimes causes him to lunge. Against solid counter punchers like Bradley and Matthysse, that presents a problem.

On Saturday night, Purdy will be looking to take advantage of opportunities to counter Alexander.

The Book on Purdy

Looking to Conquer

Purdy was a late replacement for his countryman Brook, but he insists he will be more than just a stand-in on Saturday night.

He told Gavin Glicksman of The Sun, "I’m going to put my heart and soul into this fight and come out victorious. I’m in great shape and I’m ready to put a big statement out there.”

It sounds impressive, but then again every underdog uses similar verbiage when asked about his upcoming, uphill battle.

Is there a reason we should believe in Purdy?

He is a battler and that trait could be prove useful against a man who hasn't always been courageous in the ring. He still has time to possibly get another shot at a title, but this may be his best chance at success.

In the Ring

Lights Out has a solid left hook and he is a respectable body puncher. He has a good chin, but he tests it a little too often. 

While he has a nice left hook of his own, he is vulnerable to the same punch. He has a tendency to drop his right hand as he takes a step away from his opponent.

That isn't the best flaw to have heading into a bout with a quick southpaw.

The speed disadvantage will be the biggest impediment Purdy has to overcome. He'd be best suited trying to smother Alexander and wearing him down with body shots.

That's obviously easier said than done. If Alexander is smart, he'll avoid the ropes and keep the fight in the center of the ring where he has the edge.

Prediction

This will likely be a rather run-of-the-mill example of a fast fighter boxing circles around a guy who simply can't catch up to him. Steve Kim of Max Boxing thinks the fight may be a little closer than I do.

There is always the chance that a big punch changes things, or even that Alexander tries to trade in an effort to win over fans.

In either case, Purdy's chances would be much better. My prediction is an easy unanimous decision win for Alexander.

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